22 October 2017
We returned to the high jungle of Tarapoto this week to oversee eye exams and donations of glasses for over 900 children in this region of stunning beauty. The exams and glasses are part of our annual commitment here in Peru to improving vision services for those most at risk.
The jungles of Peru cover half of this country. However, only 5 percent of the population lives in the jungle because it is such a tough environment. Some Peruvian jungles are in the lowlands along the Amazon River. Others, like around Tarapoto and Moyobamba, have mountains and are a couple of thousand feet in elevation. These are called the high jungles. While still hot, the high jungle is a much more pleasant place to visit because of slightly lower humidity, and the views are spectacular.
A young local leader from our church, Jimmy Guevara, provided our transportation for the drive between Moyobamba and Tarapoto, and he commented what it is like to live in this region. "The jungle is a treasure. These jungles are the lungs of the earth [from the oxygen they provide]", he said. It is an incredible journey through lush vegetation and mountains between these two cities.
We flew into Tarapoto but had to drive the 2 hours with Jimmy in order to get to Moyobamba.
Our donation of around 900 eye exams and glasses took place in the entire region over the course of a week (in Tarapoto, Moyobamba, and other cities). We arrived on the last day for some final oversight in Moyobamba and to attend a press conference.
The regional health authorities and schools had pre-screened the children to only send those who truly needed glasses. Children came from throughout the region for these free exams and glasses.
We had previously hired an optical firm from Lima (called Mezones) who sent three optometrists and two coordinators plus all their equipment to travel around the region to do the exams and later provide the glasses.
The team of optometrists was able to handle about 200 children each day during the week.
After the exam, each child got to pick out his or her own frame. This is something that was learned through several of these past projects - if a child picks the frame they want, they will usually wear the glasses. There were more than 50 frames to choose from, but incredibly, most of the kids wanted the black frames. We just laughed.
Now that the week of exams is completed, the optometrist firm will manufacture the 900 glasses in Lima and then send them back to the high jungle cities where the health authorities will distribute them.
We returned to the high jungle of Tarapoto this week to oversee eye exams and donations of glasses for over 900 children in this region of stunning beauty. The exams and glasses are part of our annual commitment here in Peru to improving vision services for those most at risk.
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| Spectacular views of the high jungle near Tarapoto. |
High Jungle of Tarapoto and Moyobamba
The jungles of Peru cover half of this country. However, only 5 percent of the population lives in the jungle because it is such a tough environment. Some Peruvian jungles are in the lowlands along the Amazon River. Others, like around Tarapoto and Moyobamba, have mountains and are a couple of thousand feet in elevation. These are called the high jungles. While still hot, the high jungle is a much more pleasant place to visit because of slightly lower humidity, and the views are spectacular.
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| Thick jungle vegetation covers the countryside in the high jungle. |
A young local leader from our church, Jimmy Guevara, provided our transportation for the drive between Moyobamba and Tarapoto, and he commented what it is like to live in this region. "The jungle is a treasure. These jungles are the lungs of the earth [from the oxygen they provide]", he said. It is an incredible journey through lush vegetation and mountains between these two cities.
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| Beauties of the high jungle. |
We flew into Tarapoto but had to drive the 2 hours with Jimmy in order to get to Moyobamba.
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| Whenever we go to Moyobamba, it requires a flight to Tarapoto and then an additional drive to Moyobamba. However, the jungles and the mountains are spectacular, so the drive is enjoyable. |
Into Moyobamba
Our donation of around 900 eye exams and glasses took place in the entire region over the course of a week (in Tarapoto, Moyobamba, and other cities). We arrived on the last day for some final oversight in Moyobamba and to attend a press conference.
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| Children arriving at the regional health center for the eye exam. |
The regional health authorities and schools had pre-screened the children to only send those who truly needed glasses. Children came from throughout the region for these free exams and glasses.
We had previously hired an optical firm from Lima (called Mezones) who sent three optometrists and two coordinators plus all their equipment to travel around the region to do the exams and later provide the glasses.
 |
| Everyone awaiting their turn for the exam. Each child had been pre-screened at their school so only those needing glasses came for the exam. |
The team of optometrists was able to handle about 200 children each day during the week.
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| Exams, three at a time all day for a week. |
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| Optometrists gave exams with equipment they brought from Lima. |
After the exam, each child got to pick out his or her own frame. This is something that was learned through several of these past projects - if a child picks the frame they want, they will usually wear the glasses. There were more than 50 frames to choose from, but incredibly, most of the kids wanted the black frames. We just laughed.
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| Picking out the frames. With so many to choose from, it was a hard decision. |
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| Part of the Lima team with their many frames for children to choose. |
Now that the week of exams is completed, the optometrist firm will manufacture the 900 glasses in Lima and then send them back to the high jungle cities where the health authorities will distribute them.
Without this donation, many poor children would never get vision correction. This project will make a big difference in the lives of many for years to come.
Part of the reason for returning to Moyobamba was to attend a press conference where we hoped to straighten out some misinformation about the donation.
Earlier in the week, a local TV station had run a news report stating that the Government ministry of health was providing the glasses and exams. Whether this was intentional or not, we wanted to clarify that this was not a Government donation.
The purpose of this project, first and foremost, was to aid those with the greatest need. However, when the press claimed that the donation was from the Government, we needed to clarify. Six TV and radio stations showed up for the press conference. We were all interviewed and appeared on local news that night.
Hopefully, we cleared up the confusion that had existed previously (although the TV station still identifies us as the 'iglesia evangelica' (or Evangelist Church).
In the jungle, you see things you don't see in the big cities. This is a shot of someone bringing back a load of bananas from the jungle on a motor taxi. From jungle to you table in just minites - that is fresh!
And so we left the jungle, but we return again in two weeks as in-country contacts for the visit of a US ophthalmologist who is coming to Peru to share eye surgery techniques with local eye surgeons.
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| Students bid us farewell after their exams. |
Meet the Press
Part of the reason for returning to Moyobamba was to attend a press conference where we hoped to straighten out some misinformation about the donation.
Earlier in the week, a local TV station had run a news report stating that the Government ministry of health was providing the glasses and exams. Whether this was intentional or not, we wanted to clarify that this was not a Government donation.
 |
| Carmen Tipian from the Health Ministry at the press conference clearing up some confusion about the donation. |
The purpose of this project, first and foremost, was to aid those with the greatest need. However, when the press claimed that the donation was from the Government, we needed to clarify. Six TV and radio stations showed up for the press conference. We were all interviewed and appeared on local news that night.
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| Sandy being interviewed by the press regarding the donation. She explained that, for us, being in Peru is a sacrifice we do to help others. Who knew that she would end up on TV a year after starting to learn Spanish. She did a great job. |
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| At the press conference (L to R): Jimmy Guevara, our local church leader from Tarapoto; Marshall; Carmen Tipian from the Government health ministry; and Sandy) |
Hopefully, we cleared up the confusion that had existed previously (although the TV station still identifies us as the 'iglesia evangelica' (or Evangelist Church).
Around Town
In the jungle, you see things you don't see in the big cities. This is a shot of someone bringing back a load of bananas from the jungle on a motor taxi. From jungle to you table in just minites - that is fresh!
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| Bananas - from the jungle to your table. Many families raise their own fruit on small plots of ground just outside the city, then harvest them and bring them into town to sell or eat. |
And so we left the jungle, but we return again in two weeks as in-country contacts for the visit of a US ophthalmologist who is coming to Peru to share eye surgery techniques with local eye surgeons.
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| Farewell to the jungle as the sun sets over Tarapoto - a beautiful but warm part of Peru. We will next return in two weeks as in-country contacts with the US ophthalmologist. |
It made me laugh that most of the kids chose black frames. Ha ha. I never once chose black for my own glasses, in all the 25 years I wore them. You guys look great on the tv shots. Did you know there would be so much PR associated with this mission call?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that we end up talking to the press much more than we had ever dreamed.
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